This Lich is a Better Landlord Chapter 38

He remembered his training. His instructor had specifically warned him that a paladin's standard swordplay was most effective against humanoid enemies. Against opponents that were exceptionally large, had too many arms, or possessed a bizarre form, he shouldn't rely on swordsmanship to dominate. He should use his divine arts directly!

Now he fully understood his instructor's words. When you faced an opponent that wasn't human, many sword techniques became meaningless, and could even become fatal weaknesses.

After just a few exchanges, the paladin had been struck several times. If not for the sturdiness of his armor, he would have been hacked to pieces. Meanwhile, the Living Quicksilver, its restrictions completely lifted, was like a child with a new toy. It attacked with even greater excitement, gradually abandoning formal swordplay to transform its body into all sorts of incredible shapes, launching attacks from directions the paladin couldn't possibly imagine.

Seeing the tables turn, the paladin's longsword once again blazed with holy light. But it wasn't just holy light; arcs of lightning now coiled around it.

It was Divine Smite again, but an advanced version—a Divine Smite infused with powerful lightning damage.

He had intended to save it for Ambrose, but he never thought he'd be cornered by a strange monster. He couldn't hold back anymore.

The thunderous Divine Smite descended upon the Living Quicksilver. Even though it raised several quicksilver longswords to block, the blow was unstoppable. The power of this advanced Divine Smite was enough to break through the Living Quicksilver's magic resistance and inflict horrific damage.

Unfortunately, in the end, the sword only managed to sever one of the Living Quicksilver's arms.

"It missed?! How is that possible?!"

The paladin stared in disbelief at his longsword, which had gone wide. How could a strike he had practiced a thousand times possibly miss?

The grievously wounded Living Quicksilver was thoroughly enraged. Forgetting about healing its injury, it lunged forward and enveloped the paladin. Having missed his strongest attack, the paladin was powerless to dodge. His body was completely engulfed as the Living Quicksilver immediately activated its metal-devouring ability.

The paladin struggled valiantly, his body flashing with holy light that made the Living Quicksilver seem to boil, but it was all in vain. His armor and weapon were consumed, leaving him in nothing but a thin tunic.

Blond hair, handsome, strong, an elegant demeanor… the paladin's true face was dazzling. Elsewhere, countless young women would swoon for him, but his looks were lost on the Living Quicksilver. The furious little creature once again formed a longsword, ready to pierce the paladin's body.

Without the protection of his armor, the paladin was sure to die.

But just then, Ambrose shouted, "Don't kill him! Paladins are valuable!"

Although the Living Quicksilver was still seething, it would never disobey Ambrose's command. It could only vent its frustration by slamming the paladin's head into the ground, marring his handsome face.

Ambrose said with a smile, "Still not satisfied, little one? That last Divine Smite, I'm the one who helped you dodge it. Otherwise, you'd be dead already."

Ambrose had underestimated the paladin's strength. Anyone who could use an advanced Divine Smite had to be a high-ranking paladin. And so young, too. He was likely one of the standouts of the Ryan Empire's younger generation, perhaps even a paladin personally knighted by the Emperor himself.

What a loss. A high-ranking paladin's equipment was very valuable, and now it was all ruined.

Nope, the ransom would have to be doubled!

Ambrose looked at the paladin, who was still struggling to get up, and said, "Don't waste your energy. Your companions are already in my hands. If you don't want them to lose their lives, just be a good little captive."

Hearing Ambrose's words, the paladin replied resolutely, "We are all servants of the Lord of Dawn. To die in a holy war is to have our souls ascend to the heavens. You cannot threaten me with this. We have long been prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice!"

"Heh, but one of your companions isn't a follower of the Lord of Dawn. Are you prepared to let him die with you? You've sworn the Oath of Devotion, haven't you? Isn't protecting the weak one of your tenets?"

Ambrose's words surprised the paladin. He hadn't expected the lich to know so much about him.

Every paladin swore an oath before their deity. The Oath of Devotion, the Oath of the Ancients, and the Oath of Vengeance were the three most common. The Oath of Devotion required a paladin to act with justice, uphold their integrity, protect the weak, and never resort to dishonorable tactics, even against enemies.

Harvey was a companion who fought alongside them. If Ambrose used Harvey's life as leverage, this paladin truly could not let his companion fall into peril because of his own faith. That would be a violation of his oath.

And for a paladin, violating an oath had severe consequences.

"What do you want? I will not cooperate with an undead. Even if you threaten me with the mage's life, I will never cooperate with you," the paladin said firmly.

"Who asked you to cooperate? I just want you to save your energy and be a compliant captive. Once the Ryan Empire pays the ransom, I'll naturally release you," Ambrose said.

He was already calculating in his head. The Cleric of Light, eight hundred thousand gold coins. This paladin, one million gold coins. Not a single coin less.

It sounded like a lion's opening, but this was a matter of setting a price.

Just think about it: if this paladin was so valuable, how much would the Living Quicksilver, which could fight him to a standstill or even gain a slight edge, be worth?

The Living Quicksilver was potentially Ambrose's biggest business venture for the next few hundred years. He absolutely could not sell it cheap.

But when the paladin heard Ambrose's plan, he scoffed. "Then don't waste your breath. The Empire does not pay ransoms for captives. The Ryan Empire will never be threatened by anyone, least of all by the undead. Demanding a ransom from the Ryan Empire will only bring the Paladin Legions down upon you."

Ambrose replied nonchalantly, "Wouldn't that be more to your liking? So what reason do you have to stop me from courting death? Now, tell me your name."

The paladin hadn't expected Ambrose to be so resolute. Would this lich really dare to openly provoke the Ryan Empire for mere gold?

Though he couldn't understand it, he knew he had no choice but to accept his fate as a captive, unless he wanted the innocent Harvey to die because of his stubbornness.

The paladin said calmly, "Alan Watson. That is my name."

"Watson?" Ambrose heard the surname and pressed, "What is James Watson, the editor-in-chief of 'Legendary Incantations', to you?"

The young paladin said, surprised, "You know my father?"

The soulfire in Ambrose's eye sockets blazed, almost erupting. He squeezed a sentence out through his teeth, "What a coincidence. I've known your father for many, many years."